"We've already got snow falling over high ground of northern England and parts of Scotland as well."

Heavy and persistent rain which fell overnight on Friday in Norfolk and caused the closure of the A146 turned to snow on Saturday afternoon.

Snow was also reported on high ground in Scotland.

But Mr Mayers said the cold weather was not expected to cause any real problems for motorists.

He said: "We're not looking at significant accumulations of snow by the morning."

Mr Mayes said however, that people should expect strong easterly winds on Sunday night.

"The main issue over the next few days is Sunday night, a small depression - but quite vigorous depression - moving along the English Channel from west to east with the risk of snow developing on its northern edge where it comes up against these cold easterly winds.

"Early Monday morning, travel to work time, we're looking at a risk of snow, particularly over south-west England, then central-southern England, and that then moving into south-east England.

"It looks as though the snow will only affect southern coastal counties of England.

"It may just reach as far north as Bristol and London, but that's by no means certain. And it probably won't be sort of established until later in the day, so with luck it may just be coming in for the morning rush hour rather than already laying down significant snow," he said.